Griffin Pest Solutions is a full service pest management firm-offering commercial & residential pest and wildlife removal services since 1929. We also offer full heat remediation services for bed bugs and mold.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

10 Bed Bug Truths and Myths

Like many of you, I have Google Alerts set up for my industry, particularly for hot topics…like bed bugs. Let me tell you…the more news stories and blogs I read/see about bed bugs, the more I get peeved about bad bed bug information. So I’m going to set the record straight!

Myth #1 – Bed Bugs Are A MythBed bugs are NOT a myth. They are real creatures whose meal of choice is human blood. Consider them the vampires of the pest world. And no, garlic will not keep them away.

Myth #2 – Bed Bugs Are Too Small To SeeAdult bed bugs are the size, shape and color of an apple seed. Break out your bifocals if you need to. Trust me, you can see them.

Myth #3- Bed Bugs Are A Sanitation Issue Take 2 houses side-by-side. One is occupied by an obsessive compulsive neat freak and the other is so full of garbage and junk it would be better to burn it down than empty it out. They are equally likely to get bet bugs. Bed bugs are not a sanitation issue. They are a human issue.

Myth #4 – If You Throw Away Your Mattress, You Will Get Rid Of Bed BugsBed bugs will not magically go away just because you throw out your mattress. Bug bugs generally they live within 10 feet of where you sleep. In fact, if you throw out your mattress, you have likely spread the problem by dragging your mattress down the hallway and depositing bed bugs along the way.

Myth #5 – I Can’t See Them So I Must Not Have ThemBed bugs are nocturnal…meaning they come out at night to feed. So unless you are jumping up in the middle of the night and turning on the light, odds are you won’t see them…until it is too late. Bed bugs can hide anywhere including in furniture cracks, behind picture frames, in electrical outlets, in books, clothes, stuffed animals…you name it. Go ahead; draw a 10 foot radius around your bed.

Myth #6 – I Don’t Have Any Bug Bites, So I Must Not Have Bed BugsMore than 50% of people who are bitten by bed bugs never show any signs of being bitten. So just because your husband has welts all over his body and you don’t, doesn’t mean you aren’t the meal of choice. Trust me. Bed bugs are not that picky.

Myth #7 – Over-The-Counter Pesticides Will Solve My ProblemIt is well documented that bed bugs are becoming increasingly resistant to pesticides. Even pest control companies have to change up their arsenal of what they can use to help solve bed bug infestations. You’re kidding yourself if you think some powder or spray you bought at a big box store is going to do the trick. You’ll be wasting your time and money…not be mention your blood. And one more thing; more is not always better. If you insist on trying this method, please, please, please follow the label.

Myth #8 – Any Pest Control Professional Can Solve My Bed Bug ProblemIn this instance, cheaper is not always better. We have quoted lots of bed bug jobs and not gotten them because we weren’t the cheapest. Many times those people have called back to hire us later because the cheap guy didn’t get the job done. Save yourself some money, frustration and blood. Go with experience when it comes to bed bugs.

Myth #9 – Bed Bugs Cause DiseasesThere is no known evidence that bed bugs cause disease. There is both good and bad in this statement. If bed bugs did transmit diseases, the government would quickly make bed bugs a priority. But because they simply feed on humans and infest homes, apartments, hotels, movie theaters, schools, hospitals, buses, etc. it’s really no big deal.

Myth #10 – Bed Bugs Are Contributing to Global WarmingSeriously? I couldn’t believe this when I read it! So when bed bugs were infesting the earth back in the 1930’s and ‘40’s, where was the global warming?

16 comments:

"But because they simply feed on humans and infest homes, apartments, hotels, movie theaters, schools, hospitals, buses, etc. it’s really no big deal." I don't really agree to that. Bed bugs are big problems esp to homes. Many families suffer every night when they sleep due to these itchy pests that feed on their skin. Seriously, these bed bugs are hard to get rid off. That's why many online sites are sprouting to help people solve these problems. One site i know is http://www.nobugs.in/. Visit the site and learn more on how to subdue bed bugs and other pests.

This seems to be a great site which offers Pest Control Austin, Bed Bugs Texas, Bed Bugs Austin, Bed Bugs Dallas, Bed Bugs Houston etc. and i would surely like to try their service...i had been relying on http://www.pestmanagementinc.com earlier and they too offered good stuff.

Interesting article. I do strongly agree with Myth # 4, 5 and 7. Calling only some experts dealing with the pest issues will solve this problem. I had a great experience in getting rid of them with : http://eliminateem.com/bed-bugs/

Can you please share some different methods to resolve pest control problems? There are several types of insects in my farm house land so I am looking for best pest control Port Macquarie services. Please help!!

GREAT & CLEAR -- unfortunately -- I'm living through these truths - if bed bugs infestation has increasingly been becoming pandemic; ['where on earth is this least occuring?'…] is there any science that it is an effect of global warming?…

Pretty helpful information on bed bugs. Last month, I hired services of one of renowned pest control services and they provided heat treatment for bed bugs. Glad to get this treatment as issue of bed bugs is permanently resolved through this treatment.

About Me

Griffin Pest Solutions is a Michigan-based family owned business servicing much of Michigan's Lower Peninsula and northwest Indiana. We provide full-service pest management for commercial and residential properties including general pest, termite, rodents, and bed bug services. We are a leader in Integrated Pest Management (IPM), which means we use a variety of non-chemical tactics to eliminate pest problems, before applying pesticides. We are GreenPro, QualityPro School and BedBug FREE certified.